Prince Aurangzeb

Unknown

ca. 1653–55 · Opaque watercolor and gold on cloth · Islamic Art

This profile portrait of Prince Aurangzeb (later Emperor `Alamgir "World Seizer" r. 1658–1707) was likely created during one of his terms as viceroy of the Deccan. At this time, the future emperor had established a base at the site that he named for himself—Aurangabad (formerly Khirki). This painting would have been produced by a Mughal-trained artist in the Prince’s palace workshop. This work is an important stylistic bridge between the worlds of the Mughals in the north, and the Deccani Sultans in the central plateau of India. The work is Mughal in its portrait style, and yet has been produced on cloth, a medium more typical of the Deccan, where it was produced.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1653–55

Medium

Opaque watercolor and gold on cloth

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions and 2020 Benefit Funds; Howard S. and Nancy Marks Gift; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; The Mossavar-Rahmani Fund for Iranian Art and funds from various donors, 2022